Get this book in print
About this book
My library
Books on Google Play
CONTENTS.
xvi
the town demanded.-It is abandoned by the citizen-population.-Sorrowful scenes.
-Burnside forces the passage of the Rappahannock.-The Confederate position.—
Burnside's hope to surprise Gen. Lee.-How disappointed.-The Confederate line
of battle.-The attack on the Confederate right.-Young Pelham's gallantry.-
The Confederate right broken.-The battle restored.-Interest of the field on the
left. The attack on Marye's and Willis' Hills.-Gallantry of the Federals.-They
make six attacks.-A terrible scene of carnage.-Burnside's army driven into
Fredericksburg. His appalling extremity.-Expectations in Richmond of the des-
truction of his army.-He escapes across the Rappahannock.-Gen. Lee's own
explanation of his failure to follow up his victory.-Comparative losses in the
battle.-Death of Gens. Gregg and Cobb.-Gen. Lee's sentiment with respect to
the objects of the war.-Operations in Tennessee.-Battle of Murfreesboro'.-The
situation in the West.-The lines in Tennessee and Mississippi.-Rosecrans' advance
from Nashville.-Conflicting statements of his force.-Position of Gen. Bragg's
army around Murfreesboro'.-Bragg anticipates the Federal attack.-Hardee com-
mences the battle.-He drives the entire right wing of the Federals.-Desperate
situation of Rosecrans.-His sang-froid.-He developes a new line of battle.-
The Confederates renew the attack.-How Bragg lost an opportunity.-Splendid
charge of the Confederates.-The day undecided, but the advantage with the Con-
federates.-Bragg's "Happy New-Year."-Breckinridge attempts to dislodge the
enemy. "The bloody crossing of Stone River."-Repulse of Breckinridge.—Why
Bragg determined to retreat.-The results of the Battle of Murfreesboro' in favour
of the Confederates.-A peculiarity of Gen. Bragg.-His eloquent tribute to the
private soldier of the Confederacy.-Operations in the Trans-Mississippi.-The cam-
paign West of the Mississippi feeble and irregular.-Gen. Hindman's command.—
His extravagant Address to his Soldiers.-Battle of Prairie Grove.-Hindman's first
success and unfortunate delay.-His blunders and extraordinary retreat.-Con-
dition of the Trans-Mississippi country.-Hindman's "Government ad Interim.”-
His despotic orders.—An extraordinary list of outrages.-Virtue and fidelity of
the Confederate States West of the Mississippi River....
CHAPTER XXI.
338
Review of political questions in the war.-The thread of Anti-slavery legislation.-
President Lincoln's hesitation.-The opposition to his administration.-Scheme of
compensated emancipation.-How visionary.-Mr. Lincoln's motives in suggesting
it. The President and the Chicago Deputation.-His characteristic discourse on
slavery. His reference to the Pope's Bull against the Comet.-Political importance
of the battle of Sharpsburg.-The mask dropped.-The Proclamation of Emancipa-
tion.--Misrepresentations of it.-An act of malice towards the master, not one of
mercy to the slave.-Pretence of "military necessity."-Dishonour of the plea.-
Proof of its falsehood.-Effect of the Emancipation Proclamation on the Confeder-
ates.-President Davis' commentary.-Spirit of the press and people of the Con-
federacy.-Effect of the proclamation in the North.-Analysis of the Northern
elections of 1862.-The Democratic protest against President Lincoln's administra-
tion.-Speech of Mr. Cox in the Federal Congress.-Supposed design of "recon-
struction" of the Union.-How the idea was treated in Richmond.-Savage de-
nunciations of it.- Vice-President Stephens' Declaration of Independence or death
-Military operations in the early months of 1863.-General character of the war
in the winter season.-The recapture of Galveston by the Confederates.--Fight
between the Cottonboats and the Federal Fleet.-The Harriet Lane captured.-The
other Federal vessels surrender, but escape under white flags.-Renewed attempts
against Vicksburg.-Shameful failure of Sherman's expedition.-Third attempt
upon Vicksburg made by Gen. Grant.-Its failure.-Attempt of Farragut's fleet to
run past Fort Hudson.-Destruction of the Mississippi.-Capture of Arkansas Post
by the Federals.-Its importance.-Attack of an iron-clad fleet upon Charleston.--
Trial between iron-clads and artillery.-Combat of the Keokuk and Fort Sumter.--
Complete triumph of the Confederates.-The prestige of "Monitors" destroyed..356
CHAPTER XXII.
Military situation in the early months of 1863.-Early resumption of the campaign in
Virginia. The new Federal favourite, "Fighting Joe Hooker."-The Battle of
Chancellorsville.-Hooker's plan of operations. His flaming address to his troops.
-Critical situation of Gen. Lee.-Surrounded by an enemy more than threefold
his numbers.-Calmness and self-possession of Lee.-His deliberate dispositions for
attack. The flank-march of Stonewall Jackson.-How he emerged from "the
Wilderness.”—Fall of Stonewall Jackson.-The impetus of the Confederate attack
ceases. How Gen. Lee received the news of Jackson's fall.-The battle in front of
Chancellorsville.-Hooker's army crippled and driven.-Sedgwick's advance from
Fredericksburg.-It arrests Lee's pursuit of Hooker. The fight near Salem Church.
-Sedgwick's force routed.-Hooker retreats across the river.--His terrible los-
ses.-Chancellorsville, the masterpiece of Lee's military life.-Reflections on the
victory. Startling official developments as to the numbers of Confederate armies.
-Particulars of the death of Jackson.-Exact report of his last words.-Character
of Stonewall Jackson.-His great ambition.-Early misconceptions of the man.--
How he was ridiculed.-His difference with President Davis.-His resignation sent
in, but recalled.-Jackson's military career. His genius.-His piety. His epicene
nature. Personal appearance of the hero.—What Virginia owes to his memory..370
Vicksburg, the second prize of the war.-Gen. Grant.-What his persistency was
worth. His new scheme of attack.-Two parts of the enterprise.-Porter's gun-
boats run the batteries.-Grant's march from Milliken's Bend.-Blindness of Gen.
Pemberton at Vicksburg.-Antecedents and character of this commander.-His
extreme incompetency.-President Davis blamed.-His caprice and obstinacy.—
Grant crosses the Mississippi and moves towards Port Gibson.-Gen. Johnston's
telegram to Pemberton.-Critical opportunity of the campaign.-Pemberton
refuses to use it, and disregards Johnston's despatch.-Battle of Port Gibson.—
Extraordinary valour of Bowen's command.-Grant turns Grand Gulf and moves
upon Jackson.-Gen. Johnston's arrival at Jackson.-Situation and strength of the
Confederate forces.-Evacuation of Jackson.-Johnston offers a second op-
portunity of attack to Pemberton.-The latter disobeys the order and commits a
fatal error.-Sherman's incendiary record in Jackson.-His use of the fire-brand.
-Grant forces battle upon Pemberton.-Battle of Baker's Creek.-Tremendous
exertions of Stevenson's division.-Gen. Loring fails to support him, remains in-
active, and is cut off in the retreat.-Pemberton's new position upon the Big Black.
-Its strength. It is shamefully abandoned.-Disgraceful retreat of Pemberton's
army. The fate of Vicksburg virtually decided at the Big Black.-Gen. John-
ston orders the evacuation of Vicksburg.-Pemberton entrapped there.-Siege and
surrender of Vicksburg.-Confidence of the garrison restored.-Prospect of relief
from Johnston.-How it was visionary.-Two assaults of the enemy repulsed.-
Painful operations of siege.-Sufferings of the garrison.-Johnston has some hope
of extricating the garrison.-Taylor's attack and repulse at Milliken's Bend.-
Pemberton's despatch to Johnston.-The reply: "Something may yet be done to
save Vicksburg."-Johnston prepares to attack on 7th July.-Pemberton surrenders
on Fourth of July.-His conference with Grant.—A terrible day's work.-Extent
of the disaster to the Confederate cause.-Surrender of Port Hudson.-Other events
in the region of the Mississippi connected with the Fall of Vicksburg.-Operations
in the Trans-Mississippi.—Battle of Helena.-Object of Gen. Holmes' movement on
Helena.-An extraordinary march.-An extraordinary council of war.-Gen.
Price protests against an attack.-He is ordered to take "Graveyard" fort.-He
succeeds.-The other attacks fail.-Disastrous retreat of Gen. Holmes.-The cam-
paign in Lower Louisiana.-Gen. Taylor's capture of Brashear City and its forts.-
His operations in the Lafourche country. His successes neutralized by the fall of
Vicksburg and Port Hudson.-Banks returns to New Orleans and the enemy holds
the entire line of the Mississippi......
CHAPTER XXIV.
1
385
Favourable aspects of Confederate affairs after the battle of Chancellorsville.—Alter-
native of campaigns in Richmond.-Virginia and Tennessee.-What decided the
campaign into Pennsylvania.-Reorganization of the Army of Northern Virginia.—
Its grand preparations on the Plains of Culpepper.-Ewell's movement upon Win-
chester. His captures.-Order of Lee's march to the Potomac.-Hooker out-
generalled and blinded.-Lee's march to Gettysburg, a master-piece of strategy.—
Conduct of his troops in the enemy's territory.-Gen. Lee abstains from "retalia-
tion."-Comment of the Richmond "Examiner."-Gen. Hooker relieved, and Meade
put in command of the Federal army.-Alarm in the North.-Meade marches
towards Gettysburg.-The battle of Gettysburg.-A Confederate victory the first
day. How it was not improved.-A great errour.-The critical heights of Gettys-
burg taken by the enemy.-Cemetery Ridge.-" Round Top."-The Confederate
line of battle.-Why Gen. Lee determined to attack.-Action of the second day.-
Longstreet's desperate engagement.-Temporary possession of "Round Top."-
Successes on the Confederate left.-Action of the third day.-An ominous silence.
-Sudden and terrible cannonade.-Heroic charge of Pickett's division.-Sublime
devotion of the Virginians.-They take the key of the enemy's position.-The
shout of victor.-Pettigrew's support fails.-The day lost.-Gen. Lee rallying
his troops. His subsequent retreat to the Potomac.-Success of the retreat.-He
retires to the line of the Rapidan.-Gettysburg the climacteric of the Southern
Confederacy.-History of the peace mission of Vice-President Stephens as connected
therewith. An ostensible letter of President Davis.-How the mission was re-
pulsed-The honourable position of the Confederate President... 401
Gettysburg and Vicksburg twin disasters for the Confederates.-Their effect on the
Confederate currency.-The financial system of the Southern Confederacy.-The
modern system of public credits an encouragement to war.-Review of financial
experiments in the modern wars of Europe.-The three conspicuous examples of
Great Britain, France and Russia.-The great financial errour in the American
war.-How a bank of exchequer would have operated in the war.-The rule of
reflux in currency.-Brief statement of financial condition of North and South at
close of the war,-Suspension of the Southern banks in the first year of the war
-Amount of specie in the South at the commencement of the war.-Principa.
measures of Confederate finance.-How the Southern banks became involved.—
Practical results of their loan to the Government.-" Making money by machinery."
-Sales of Confederate bonds.-Special occasions for this investment.—Unequal to
relieve the currency.-Rates of depreciation of the Confederate money.-Rich-
mond, the centre of finance and trade.-Gold not a measure of value in the
Confederacy.-Reasons for its extraordinary appreciation there.-Comparison of
Confederate money with the Continental currency in the Revolution of 1776.-
Two capital causes of the depreciation of the Confederate money.-The influence
of speculation.-How the engrossers managed in Richmond.-Summary of the
mismanagement of the Confederate finances...
CHAPTER XX V I.
415
The new attempt upon Fort Sumter and Charleston.-Gen. Gillmore's command.—His
plan of operations.-What was proposed by the reduction of the works on Morris
Island.-A base of operations on Folly Island.—How Gen. Beauregard was blinded
and deceived.-Forty-seven guns of the enemy unmasked.-The assault on Fort
Wagner.-Gallantry of a Connecticut regiment. The assault repulsed.-Gen.
Beauregard's plans.-His object in holding Morris Island.-Second assault on Fort
Wagner in conjunction with Dahlgren's fleet.-The bombardment of Fort Wagner.
-Profound and significant silence of the garrison.-Advance of the storming
column. Its repulse.-Terrible scenes of carnage.-Siege operations.-Appeals to
the South Carolina planters, and their indifference.-Gillmore prepares to bombard
and destroy Charleston.-"The Greek Fire."-"The Swamp Angel."-Gillmore's
notice of bombardment.-Sharp and memorable reply of Gen. Beauregard.-
Cowardly rejoicings in the North.-The bombardment a failure.-Attempted
demolition of Fort Sumter.-How far the fort was injured by the bombardment.—
Gillmore announces its reduction.-The announcement false and absurd.-Pro-
gress of the siege operations against Fort Wagner.-A terrific fire opened upon
it. Surpassing grandeur of the scene.-Gillmore plans another assault upon the
fort. The Confederates evacuate it and Morris Island.-What Gen. Beauregard
accomplished by the retention of Morris Island for two months.-The Island not
the key to Charleston.-Admiral Dahlgren refuses to ascend the harbour with his
iron-clads. He summons Fort Sumter to surrender.-Beauregard's reply.-A
boat-attack on the Fort.-Its disastrous repulse.-The enemy operations against
Charleston degenerate into a chronic and fruitless bombardment.-Disappoint-
ment in the North....
CHAPTER XXVII.
429
General Joseph E. Johnston's prophecy of the fate of Tennessee.-Character and ex-
traordinary foresight of this commander.-How Tennessee was sacrificed to the
attempted defence of Vicksburg.-Bragg's army flanked at Hoover's Gap.--It
commences a retreat to Chattanooga.-Expedition of John Morgan.-How it
affected the Western campaign and embarrassed Burnside.-Morgan's circuit
through Kentucky, Indiana, and Ohio.-What he accomplished.-His anxiety for
retreat. Cut off on the Ohio River.-Terrible scenes in the attempt to swim the
river.-Capture of Morgan and the bulk of his command.-Cruel and infamous
treatment of the distinguished captive and his officers.-Surrender of Cumberland
Gap.-President Davis' commentary on this event.-Recoil of serious charges upon
the Richmond administration.-Burnside's invasion of East Tennessee.-Gen.
Frazier in command at Cumberland Gap.-His correspondence with Gen. Buckner.
-The defences of the Gap imperfect.-Insufficiency of the garrison.-Why Gen.
Frazier surrendered it.-Two lines of operations now opened against Chattanooga.
-The Battle of Chickamauga.—Topography of the country around Chattanooga.--
Movements of Rosecrans.-He threatens a flank movement towards Rome.-The
Confederates evacuate Chattanooga.-Bragg's new line from Lee's and Gordon's Mills
to Lafayette.-Longstreet's corps on the way from Virginia to reinforce him.—
Rosecrans pursues the Confederates, and exposes himself in detail. The lost
opportunity in M'Lenore's Cove.-Lines of Rosecrans' advance.-Bragg resolves
to advance and attack him.-Arrival of Longstreet with five brigades.-The
enemy anticipates a flank movement by Bragg.-A severe encounter.-Cleburne's
gallant charge.-The Confederate plan of battle for the next day.-Gen. Polk to
open the action.-A strange delay.-A singular breakfast scene.-Gen. Bragg
furious. The Confederate right wing beaten back.-Critical condition of the
field.-Longstreet's attack. He saves the day. The enemy utterly routed.-
Chickamauga a brilliant but unproductive victory.....
CHAPTER XXVIII.
439
Conference of Gens. Bragg and Longstreet the day after the battle of Chickamauga.
-Longstreet's plan of campaign north of the Tennessee River.-Why Gen. Bragg
declined it. His investment of Chattanooga.-He cuts off the enemy's supplies.
-He hopes to starve the garrison into surrender.-Reorganization of the Federal
armies in the west.-Gen. Grant's new and large command.--His first task to
relieve Thomas in Chattanooga.-His successful lodgment on the south side of the
Tennessee River.-Surprise of Longstreet.-The Confederates retreat to Lookout
Mountain.-Longstreet makes a night attack on the enemy's new position, but is
repulsed.--The enemy accomplishes the relief of Chattanooga.-Detachment of
Longstreet from Bragg's front to operate against Knoxville.-This unfortunate
movement the work of President Davis.-Military pragmatism and vanity of the
Confederate president.-Grant determines to take the offensive.-The Battle of
Missionary Ridge.-Extraordinary strength of the Confederate position.-Two at-
tacks repulsed.-General advance of the Federal lines to the crest of Missionary
Ridge. Audacity of the movement.-Bad conduct of the Confederate troops.—A
shameful panic.-Causes of the extraordinary misconduct of Bragg's army.-It
falls back to Dalton.-Longstreet's expedition against Knoxville.-His pursuit of
Burnside. His unsuccessful assault on Fort Sanders at Knoxville.-He retreats to
Rogersville, is cut off from Virginia, and spends the winter in North-eastern Ten-
nessee.-Operations in Virginia in the Fall of 1863.-Lee attempts to flank Meade
and get between him and Washington.-An extraordinary adventure of Stuart's
cavalry. Meade retreats to and beyond Bull Run.--Failure of Lee's flank move-
ment.-Incidents of success for the Confederates.-Lee retires to the Rappahan-
nock.-Affair of Rappahannock Bridge.-Affair of Germania Ford.-Desultory
operations between Lee's lines and East Tennessee.-Averill's raid.-Close of the
campaign of 1863 in Virginia......
CHAPTER XXIX.
453
Effect of the Federal successes of 1863 on the Northern elections.-Estimate in the
Richmond newspapers of the Democratic alliance in the North.-Losses of the
Democratic party in the elections of 1863.-President Lincoln's triumph.-His
administration strengthened.-It ventures to new lengths.-Arrest of Mr. Val-